Forbidden Secrets

  Chapter

  27

  The following day Savannah walked down the narrow aisle of the small stone church.

  No organ music played. No guests had gathered. Savannah did not wear white lace.

  She wore the black of mourning.

  Her eyes were puffy and swollen. The sight of Victoria staring at her accusingly had kept her awake and crying all night.

  Dressed in a black suit, Tyler stood in front of the minister. His expression was solemn.

  Lucy stood beside him, holding a bouquet of black roses. Lucy’s lips were set in a grim line.

  This should be the happiest day of my life, Savannah realized as she neared the altar.

  But how can it be? My Victoria is dead.

  Tyler stepped forward and took her hand. She found comfort in the warmth of his grip.

  “Today we begin anew,” he said quietly, his blue eyes holding hers. “We have been plagued with misfortune from the beginning. Our marriage will bring us the happiness we both want.” He gave her a small smile. “Trust me, Savannah.”

  “I do,” she whispered. “I always have.”

  The minister began to read a passage of scripture in a slow, solemn voice.

  Savannah found her thoughts drifting back to the days before the war. She had been happy then. She had been surrounded by a loving family and so many friends.

  If only I had married Tyler before the war, she thought. It might have been the marriage I always dreamed of—

  White lace.

  Magnolias filling the church.

  Victoria holding my bouquet. Victoria whole and sane and happy for me.

  Zachariah standing beside my future husband.

  My father leading me up the aisle, his strong arm offering support.

  My mother happily weeping as she sat in the front pew.

  But I waited.

  And now I have nothing but an empty church. And the day that should have been so happy is filled with sadness.

  I have lost my entire family, Savannah thought.

  Then Tyler’s deep voice broke into her memories.

  “I, Tyler Fier, take thee, Savannah Gentry . . .”

  Savannah lifted her gaze to Tyler’s handsome face. He is my family now, she reminded herself.

  She glanced down as Tyler slipped a plain gold wedding ring onto her finger. After all this time, I am truly his wife—until death do us part.

  Savannah repeated her own vows and slipped her token of love onto his finger—a matching gold wedding ring.

  “Forever, Savannah,” he said in a low voice just before he sealed the vow with a kiss.

  “Forever,” she repeated when the kiss ended. “Forever.”

  Savannah and Tyler turned and started back down the aisle.

  “We are really and truly sisters now,” Savannah said when Lucy approached her.

  Lucy reached up and placed her cold hands around Savannah’s neck.

  Savannah shivered. She hugged Lucy, then stepped back. Lucy tightened her hold. I can’t breathe, Savannah thought in a panic. She clamped her hands on Lucy’s waist and tried to push Lucy away.

  But Lucy wouldn’t let go. She stood on tiptoe so she could whisper in Savannah’s ear.

  “Promise me, promise me you won’t have children,” Lucy begged. “If you do, they will all suffer the curse of the Fiers—as I have suffered. Promise, Savannah. Remember, my parents died in a fire and left me all alone. The same curse is on you now.”

  Chapter

  28

  Tyler helped Savannah out of the buggy. He kissed her lightly. “Welcome home, Mrs. Fier.”

  The sound of Savannah’s new name startled her. She smiled uncertainly. “It’s hard to believe that we are finally married.”

  “I know,” Tyler agreed as they walked up the stone steps with Lucy trailing behind them. “It’s been so long since Zachariah brought me to Whispering Oaks.”

  Tyler held the door open for Savannah and Lucy. “It’s time for you to go to bed, Lucy,” Tyler announced as he shut the door behind them. “It’s been a long day. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

  Lucy narrowed her eyes. “Savannah isn’t going to bed now. I want to stay up and celebrate with you.”

  Tyler cupped Lucy’s cheek. “Savannah is my wife. I want to spend some time alone with her.”

  Lucy stomped her foot. “You think I am a child.”

  “Lucy—” Tyler began.

  “I am not a child. I don’t have to do what you say,” Lucy said, bracing her hands on her hips.

  Nothing is as it should be today, Savannah thought. I can’t even be alone with my own husband.

  “As long as you live here, you will do exactly as I say,” Tyler warned Lucy.

  “I hate you!” she cried shrilly. She raced up to the second floor, Tyler right behind her.

  Savannah lifted her skirts and rushed after them. She caught Tyler’s arm. He stopped and looked at her.

  “Let her go. You were right. It has been a long day. She will fall asleep on her own,” Savannah told him.

  They heard a high-pitched scream, a crash, and then another scream. Tyler grabbed Savannah’s hand and they hurried into Lucy’s room.

  Lucy picked up one of her precious dolls and threw it at Tyler. He caught it easily.

  “I am not a child!” Lucy cried. “You bring me all these stupid dolls because you think I am a child. You never noticed that I grew up.”

  She tore the head from one of the dolls and threw it at Savannah. It landed near Savannah’s feet and stared up at her with unblinking eyes. Just like Victoria in her coffin, Savannah thought.

  “Lucy,” Tyler warned in a low, threatening voice. “Stop now.”

  “No! I can do anything I want. I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them all!”

  What is wrong with her? Savannah thought. Why is she acting this way?

  “You could have married me, Tyler. You could have married me. Then I could stay up and talk to you. Then you wouldn’t tell me to go to bed.” Lucy ripped the arms off another doll. Cotton stuffing floated through the room.

  Victoria was right, Savannah realized. Lucy does want Tyler all to herself. Her feelings are much stronger than a little girl’s.

  Lucy grabbed another doll and began ripping it apart. Tyler stormed out of the room, a thunderous expression on his face.

  Savannah stepped farther into the room. “Lucy,” she called out softly. “Lucy, remember, we are sisters now. We can talk.”

  Lucy spun around and bared her teeth. She curled her fingers into claws. “I don’t want to be your sister anymore. Your sister died. You killed her. I don’t want you to kill me.”

  Savannah gasped. She backed away from Lucy. Does she really think I would hurt her?

  Savannah felt relieved when Tyler burst back into the room. “You are right, Lucy,” he said in a low, calm voice. “I failed to notice that you had grown up. You are too big for dolls now.”

  Breathing heavily, Lucy sank down onto her bed. “I’m not a child.”

  Cautiously, Tyler stepped closer. “No, you are not a child. I would not give this to a child.”

  Savannah watched as Tyler opened his hand. A ruby ring was cradled in his palm. “This belonged to my mother. She told me to give it to you when you grew up,” Tyler told Lucy.

  Lucy uttered a cry of surprise. “It’s beautiful, Tyler.”

  “So are you,” Tyler said. He took Lucy’s hand and slipped the ring onto her finger. Lucy held up her hand and admired the sparkling jewel.

  “I am all grown-up now, aren’t I?” she asked.

  “Yes, you are,” Tyler said.

  With a triumphant smile, Tyler looked over Lucy’s head at Savannah. Relieved that Lucy was calm at last, Savannah returned his smile.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  But that night she couldn’t stop thinking about Lucy. Savannah took a deep breath and told Tyler everything Lucy had said to her at the church.

  Tyler’s expression grew somber.

/>   A cold chill ran along Savannah’s spine. A feeling of heavy dread filled her.

  Tyler walked to the window and drew the black drapes back. He gazed out at the darkness in silence.

  “I hoped I would never have to tell you this,” he said finally. Tyler turned and met Savannah’s gaze.

  “Lucy killed her parents.”

  Chapter

  29

  Savannah heard something shatter. Only then did she realize she had dropped her wineglass. The wine pooled on the floor like blood.

  The room tilted and swirled around Savannah. She gasped for air.

  Lucy killed her parents! Lucy killed her parents!

  The words echoed through her mind like a wailing wind.

  She staggered back and fell into a chair.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked.

  “Lucy will have to be taken away. After the way she acted tonight . . . I think you could be in danger.”

  Tyler stood, walked to the fireplace, and gazed into the fire burning in the hearth. “I thought I could take care of her, but I can’t. It is too risky to have her at the house,” Tyler said somberly.

  Savannah rose and walked over to Tyler. She rested her hand on his back. “You’re right. We have to do what is best for Lucy and ourselves.”

  “I don’t want you to say anything to Lucy about my decision,” he said quietly. “Once I have made arrangements for Lucy to live elsewhere, I will explain the situation to her.”

  He turned from the fire. He appeared worried and exhausted. “I don’t want Lucy to think you had anything to do with my decision.”

  He took Savannah’s hands and squeezed them. “I don’t want Lucy to be angry with you,” he said in a ragged voice. “I don’t want you to die next.”

  Chapter

  30

  A few nights later Savannah sat at the dressing table in her room, getting ready for bed. She slowly ran her brush through her blond hair.

  She had not seen Lucy since the night they returned from the wedding. Lucy claimed she was unwell and needed to rest.

  I miss Victoria, Savannah thought. Each morning she walked to Victoria’s grave and placed fresh roses next to her sister’s headstone.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about the horrible fight with her sister. Over and over again she saw the madness in Victoria’s eyes, the glint of the sharp knife.

  There is nothing else you could have done, she assured herself for the hundredth time. Victoria was about to kill Tyler.

  Savannah leaned over and blew out the candle. Shadows swallowed the room. The only light came from the small fire in the hearth.

  She rose from the chair and strolled over to the window. The garden was black. So black.

  As she turned from the window, a flash of light caught her eye. She peered down and saw a torch moving around on the grounds. Tyler must be taking a late walk, she thought.

  Savannah understood his restlessness. He had so much on his mind these days. He would be sending Lucy away soon, and Savannah knew that troubled him.

  I hope he doesn’t stay out too long, Savannah thought. She padded across the cold stone floor and slipped beneath the quilts on her bed. She snuggled down deeper and closed her eyes. But sleep would not come.

  I wish I could think of a way to help Tyler, Savannah thought. She rolled over onto her side.

  What was that? Savannah sat up. She thought she heard the door slam downstairs. It must be Tyler, she thought. She slid out of bed and crept to the window. She could no longer see the torch.

  She heard another sound and froze.

  The sound of tiny footsteps.

  Running.

  Running across stone.

  Lucy?

  Bang! Savannah’s door flew open.

  Lucy stood on the threshold, breathing heavily, her cheeks a fiery red.

  The flames from the hearth were reflected in her glittering black eyes.

  She stared at Savannah.

  And then she began to laugh hysterically.

  “I know the truth!” she called out in a singsong voice. “I know the truth!”

  Chapter

  31

  Lucy spun around and dashed out the door.

  Oh, no! Savannah thought. Lucy knows she is being sent away from Blackrose Manor.

  Lucy liked to hide in the shadows. Lucy liked to learn secrets.

  Tyler! I must warn Tyler. Who knows what Lucy will try to do to him!

  Savannah rushed across the room to the dressing table and grabbed a candle. She lit it in the fireplace and hurried out of the room. Where could Lucy have gone? I must find Tyler first, she decided. Then we can both worry about finding Lucy.

  Savannah walked down the hallway until she reached the stairs. The stone felt freezing against her bare feet. Savannah shivered.

  I must find Tyler. Savannah scurried down the stairs. The candle flame danced wildly—then died. Throwing Savannah into darkness.

  She froze. There are candles in the parlor, she told herself. I just have to get down the rest of the stairs and into the parlor.

  Savannah stepped down. Her foot landed on the edge of the next step. She tripped. And felt herself falling. Falling headfirst down the hard stone stairs.

  Chapter

  32

  Savannah landed at the bottom of the staircase. In a daze she realized she had fallen on something soft. Something warm.

  A body!

  Savannah scrambled away from it. She peered through the darkness. Lucy. It’s Lucy.

  Savannah cautiously reached out and shook the girl gently. “Lucy?”

  No answer.

  I must find a candle. I must see how badly Lucy is hurt.

  Savannah struggled to her feet and made her way to the parlor. The fire in the hearth crackled and popped.

  She found the small stub of a candle on a nearby table and quickly lit it.

  Her blood thrummed through her temples as she hurried back to Lucy. Her knees quivered.

  Savannah gasped as the light from her candle fell on Lucy’s crumpled body. Lucy’s arms were pinned beneath her. A circle of blood surrounded her.

  And her face . . . her face was smashed in. Just like her porcelain doll’s.

  Savannah’s stomach lurched. I must find Tyler and tell him what happened. The garden. He was in the garden. She rushed outside.

  “Tyler!” she called into the darkness.

  Only the howling wind answered. It blew her candle out.

  Savannah shuddered. “Tyler!” she shouted again. Then she saw pale yellow light escaping from beneath a door at the far end of the mansion.

  Where does that door lead? she wondered. She ran over and tried the latch. Unlocked. She slowly pulled the door open and slipped inside.

  She found a stairwell lit with huge torches. These stairs must lead to the cellar, Savannah thought. She headed down.

  When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw a man hunched over a table. A vial of steaming liquid bubbling beside him.

  “Tyler!” Savannah gasped.

  He spun around quickly. “Savannah! I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I had to find you. Lucy is dead!” Savannah cried.

  “Yes, I know,” he said coldly. He stepped toward her.

  Savannah could see more of the table now. It was covered with vials and jars. Then she saw something that made her scream.

  A severed hand—with Lucy’s ruby ring on one finger.

  “You killed her!” Savannah cried. “You killed Lucy.”

  “I really had no choice,” Tyler replied in a calm voice.

  He advanced on Savannah with a grin. “You see, Savannah, I wanted you to be the last one to die!”

  Chapter

  33

  Savannah backed away as Tyler moved toward her one slow step at a time.

  “You killed Mrs. Mooreland too, didn’t you?” she cried. She remembered Mrs. Mooreland’s severed hand.

  “Yes,” he confessed, his eyes glowing with t
riumph. “Yes! I killed Mrs. Mooreland. Yes, I killed Lucy! They tried to keep you away from me.”

  “Victoria was right about you!” Savannah cried. “She knew you were evil. And I killed her. I killed my own sister to protect you.”

  Savannah felt hatred pump though her body. “How could you do this to me?” she screamed.

  “That’s not all I did,” Tyler told her. “I killed Zachariah too.” He held up his scarred palm. “He gave me no choice. We were on opposite sides of the war. He stabbed me with his bayonet.”

  Savannah shuddered. Zach was trying to warn me when he came to me that night at Whispering Oaks, she realized. He was trying to warn me about Tyler!

  “And if you hadn’t been on opposite sides of the war?” she demanded. “What then? Would you have killed us all at Whispering Oaks?”

  “I told you, Savannah. The war changed us. It changed us all.”

  He took a big step toward her.

  Savannah backed up and slammed against the wall.

  A victorious smile spread over Tyler’s face. “There is no one to help you, Savannah.” He held out his hands. “Only me. Come to me.”

  “No!” Savannah shouted. She searched the room for a way to escape.

  Tyler is blocking the stairs, she thought. I must get him away from the stairs.

  And then she noticed a torch burning near her.

  Tyler stepped closer.

  Savannah held her breath and waited. Just come a little closer, Tyler, she thought. Just a little closer.

  Tyler took another step forward.

  Savannah grabbed the heavy torch and slammed it down on Tyler’s head. Tyler stumbled and fell to the cold stone floor.

  Savannah watched in terror as Tyler struggled to get to his feet. He threw his head back and released an angry howl. Then he lunged for her.

  She ducked and twisted to the side. Tyler bashed into the wall.

  Savannah spotted a pitchfork leaning in the far corner. She scurried across the room, snatched it up, and whirled around.

  Tyler leaned against the wall for support. His head hanging down. Savannah raised the pitchfork and started toward him.